A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1, Part 74

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : A.W. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1310

USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1 > Part 74
USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1 > Part 74

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In 1854 Adley Calhoun sold his farm in Jefferson county, and removed to Van Wert county, where he purchased a tract of land, and of this land he later gave to each of his children 160 acres. Up to the time of the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion Mr. Calhoun was a democrat, but by the fact of the war being brought on and by its results, he be- came a republican, and remained a republican the remainder of his life. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and died in 1870. His wife was a Lutheran, and died in 1895.

Abraham Calhoun was born in Jefferson county, was reared on his father's farm, and with him came to Van Wert county, contin- uing to work with him until he was twenty-one years of age. and then enlisted in company K. Eighty-eighthi Ohio volunteer infantry, in which he served until his term of enlistment expired, but was never in a battle. He now receives from the government a pension of $to per month. In politics he is a republican and in religion a Methodist. In every way he is a liberal-minded and charitable man, with his means as with his opinions, and he is pop-

OF VAN WERT COUNTY.

ular with all. After the war was over he set- tled down upon his farm, where he lived for a series of years, wlien he removed to Van Wert, living retired from active care and en- joying the fruits of earlier labors. On Jan- uary 30, 1868, he was married to Miss Edith Hoagland, of Van Wert county, by whom he became the father of the following children: Albert, who died in IS70; Tirza G., and Bardon, who died in 1888. Tirza G. Calhoun is a highly accomplished and a most excellent young lady. She has received a superior musical education, is a music teacher, is single and is living with her mother.

Miss Edith Hoagland was born March 3, . 1851. Her father, Enoch Hoagland, was born in Virginia in 1804, and received a superior college education, and after graduating taught school for some time. Later he became a dealer in real estate and was elected justice of the peace, serving in Richland county for eighteen years. In politics he was a democrat and served in the army of the Union all through the war of the Rebellion. He located in Van Wert county at an early day, and was one of the first settlers in Hoagland township, that township having been named after him. He was married in Richland county to Miss Cynthia Foller, who was formerly of Virginia, and died in 1856. By her he had the follow- ing children: Melissa, deceased; Wilson, de- ceased; Mary: Aaron, deceased; Sarah, de- ceased; Enoch; Emma, deceased; Samuel, Edith and Clara.

Edith Hoagland, the wife of Mr. Calhoun, was born in 1851, as before stated. Her mother died when she was five years old, and she was then taken by a sister to Iowa, and lived with that sister until she was sixteen years of age. In 1865 she returned to Van Wert county, in which county she taught school for some years, and was then married to Mr. Calhoun. She is a member of the Meth- i

odist Episcopal church, and is a woman highly regarded and esteemed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

EORGE CARMEAN, of Jackson township, Van Wert county, Ohio, was born in Old Chillicothe, Ohio, February 20, 1819, and in 1835 be- came a pioneer of Allen county, Ohio, being then but sixteen years of age. His father, William Carmean, was a native of Delaware, and when a young man came to Ohio and settled in Ross county, near Chillicothe, on Buckskin creek, and there married Margaret Miller, a native of Pennsylvania and a daugh- ter of George Miller, of Dutch descent, to which marriage were born ten children, viz: George, Frederick, Sarah, William, Mary, Jacob, Elizabeth, Rachael, Joseph and Edward. William Carmean came to Auglaize county after marriage and was accidently drowned in the Big Auglaize river, while at- tempting ford the stream on horseback.

George Carmean. our subject, located in Allen county, Ohio, in 1835, and worked as a farm hand until his marriage. in October, 1840, to Elizabeth Carr, a daughter of Solo- mon and Mary Carr, the former of whom came from Ross county and an early settler on the Big Auglaize river in Auglaize county. After marriage George Carmean and wife set -. tled in Allen county, where they lived until 1872, when they came to Van Wert county. and located in the woods of Jackson township. where he has cleared up a farm of eighty acres. and met with a course of prosperity seldom equaled. To his marriage with Miss Carr, there have been born the following children: Margaret, Isaac, William, Melissa J., Abraham Solomon and Jesse. Mr. and Mrs. Carmean are sincere members of the Methodist Episcopal

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

church, and in politics he was first an old-line whig, and afterward a republican.

The patriotism of the Carmean family was well represented, during the late Civil war, by four of the sons, who enlisted in the following order: Joseph, in Allen county, in August, 1861, in company B, Eighty-first Ohio volun- teer infantry, veteranized in January, 1864, was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 13, 1865, and died in Van Wert county July 3, 1867; William enlisted in Allen county, in August, 1862, in company A, One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, was promoted to sergeant, and detailed for duty at Nashville, Tenn .; Edward enlisted in Allen county, February 29, 1864, in company D, Eighty-first Ohio volunteer infantry, was con- fined four months in hospital, and was mus- tered out at Louisville, Ky., July 13, 1865; Jacob D. enlisted at Lima, Allen county, Sep- tember 24, 1864, in company G, One Hundred and Eightieth Ohio volunteer infantry, was in hospital at Washington, D. C., then at Nash- ville, Tenn., for two months, and was dis- charged for disability April 13, 1865. This is a fine military record for one family.

Mr. Carmean is a typical American pioneer. At the age of sixteen years he walked through the woods from Chillicothe to Wapakoneta, a distance of 200 iniles, and at the latter place found but one building-a log tavern; he met but one white man, but there were numerous groups of Indians scattered along in wigwams; he inquired his way to his uncle's place on Hogg creek in Marion township. Allen county, and thus, with the assistance of a settler. found his uncle's home in the woods. At that time there were few houses in Lima, and Del- phos had not been settled at all. Game was plentiful in Allen and Van Wert counties, and many were the deer and wild turkey's killed by Mr. Carmean, and not a few bears. After set- tling on his land in Jackson township. Van

Wert county, Mr. Carmean underwent all the hardships, or nearly all, that he had endured on his first settlement in Allen county, but his toil was considerably mitigated, in clearing up his farm from the woods, through the presence of a larger number of neighbors, and the readi- ness through which help and more improved implements were attainable. He has devel- oped a fine and fertile farin, improved in every respect, has reared a highly respected family. and is now passing away his years in compara- tive ease, enjoying the harvest consequent upon his long and ardnous labors, and recognized by his neighbors as one of the most experi- enced farmer in the county, and honored as an upright gentleman who has never been known to commit an act of injustice nor ever to have violated his word.

I RA CAVETT, a prosperons farmer of Ridge township, Van Wert county, Ohio, and in days gone by, and yet, a famous hunter, was born in Licking county, Ohio, September 28, 1829, and is a son of William and Elizabeth Sibyl (Barnes) Cavett. The father, William Cavett, was born in Pennsylvania and was but a lad when brought by his parents to Ohio: his wife, Eliza- beth S. Barnes, was born in the state of New York. They were the parents of two children only -- our subject and Lucy, the wife of John Gilliland. In the winter of 1838, William Cavett, with his wife, son and daughter, left Licking county in a wagon and went to Williams connty, but were there disappointed in the purchase of land, and in the spring fol- lowing came to Van Wert county and entered 160 acres two and a half miles south of the city, in Ridge township, where he followed farming until his death in 1861; his widow still resides on this farm, in her eighty-sixth

OF VAN WERT COUNTY.

year, although the property has been divided between the children.

Ira Cavett, the subject of this sketch, was but nine years of age when brought to Van Wert county. He assisted as innch as pos- sible in clearing the homestead, but had a small predilection for hunting, and through his skill as a marksman not only furnished meat for the family, but derived a handsome rev- enue from the pelts of the animals that fell under the accurate and deadly aim of his rifle, and even now, though past middle life, his passion for the chase has not expired, and he frequently makes trips to Missouri and Michigan on the hunt for game, and on a re- cent occasion brought home six fine deer as the result of his remarkable skill as a marksman. Although his opportunities for securing an education were somewhat meager, he was shrewd and apt in his younger days and ac- quired through self-instruction sufficient knowl- edge to carry him safely through life's business affairs.

October 21, 1852. Mr. Cavett was married to Miss Martha Gilliland, a member of one of the most prominent pioneer families of Van Wert county, and to this union have been born four children, viz: William Thomas, who died at four years of age, from the kick of a horse; Eva May, who died in early childhood; Ed- ward Maxwell, who died when sixteen months old, and John, who is married to Lucy Sidle, and is the father of three children -- Ethel May, James Ira and Nellie Marie. Mrs. Cavett is a Catholic in her religion, while Mr. Cavett is a Methodist. In politics Mr. Cavett is a demo- crat, and for six years held the office of di- rector of the infirmary; he was also township trustee for two terms, and assessor, by appoint- William M. Christy, son of John and father of Dr. Samuel K., was born in Butler county, Pa .. in March, 1812, was reared to farming, and on reaching manhood married Margaret ment, one term. His present farin of ninety acres he bought in 1865, and it now compares favorably with any farm of its size in the county. In 1890 Mr. Cavett was appointed | Kennedy, danghier of Samuel and Margaret

to the position of guard at the Ohio peniten- tiary for forty days, when he had to leave on account of ill health. John Cavett was born September 4, 1871, and was educated in the common schools. He remained at home until twenty-one years of age, when, in 1890, he engaged, in partnership with W R. Kime, of Van Wert, in the stove and tinware trade, in which he continued one year; then. a short time later, engaged in buying and shipping poultry and eggs until August, 1894, since when he has lived at home with his parents. He is a democrat in politics, and in religion a member of the Methodist church. Ira Cavett and wife and son have all won the respect and good will of all their neighbors, and but very few stand as high as they in the esteem of the citizens of Ridge township.

R. SAMUEL KENNEDY CHRISTY, the leading physician and surgeon of Willshire, Van Wert county, Ohio, is of sterling Scotch-Irish descent, and is of the fourth generation of the family to make a home in America. His great-grand- father, John Christy, the founder of the family in the United States, passed his days in eastern Pennsylvania, where John Christy, grandfather of the doctor, was born and reared, but later became identified with the early settlement of Butler county, Pa., where he was for many years engaged in farmning. He also performed gallant service on Lake Erie during the war of IS12. He married a Miss Moore, and both he and she passed away their lives in Butler county, dying devoted members of the Presby- terian charch.

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

(Gillespie) Kennedy. The father of Samuel Kennedy came from Ireland, settled in Pitts- burg, Pa., and in a small way was engaged in the manufacture of linens, a business he had carried on in the old country. The marriage of William M. Christy was blessed with the following children: Mrs. Ellen Peoples, Mrs. Elizabeth Sullivan (deceased); Mary A. ; Achsa M., deceased, Samuel K., our subject; Mrs. Isabella M. Myers, and John C. The parents of this family were married in Allegheny county, Pa., where they were engaged in farming a number of years, but in 1853 moved to Adams county, Ind., where they purchased a fertile farm of eighty acres, and there the father died in 1873 and the mother in 1884-both devout adherents of the Presbyterian churchi.

Dr. Samuel K. Christy was born in Alle- gheny county. Pa., June 8, 1852, and was reared to health-giving toil on the home farm. He was educated in his literary course at the Normal university of Lebanon, Ohio, which he attended several terms, and after finishing his studies in that institution employed himself in teaching school four years, making a fine repu- tation in this profession; he then, in 1877, entered the Medical college of Ohio, at Cin- cinnati, from which he graduated, in 1880, with the largest class that was ever granted diplomas by that famous institution. The doctor immediately located for practice in Willshire, Ohio, his present abode, where his abilities were at once recognized, and here he has had a remunerative practice ever since, with the exception of two years that were passed in Howard, Miner county, S. Dak., and two years in Decatur, Ind.

The marriage of Dr. Christy took place April 2, 1884, to Mrs. Calinda J. Johnson, widow of Wilson johnson and daughter of Halsted and Mary B. (Pierson) Mills, of Will- shire township. The doctor and wite are con- sistent members of the Methodist church,

which they liberally aid, and in politics the doctor is a republican. Fraternally he is a member of the K. of P. lodge, No. 49, of Howard, S. Dak. ; and is also a member of the Northwestern Ohio State Medical association. He owns an attractive new two-story frame dwelling in the village of Willshire, eighty acres of farm land in Adams county, Ind., and also some. valuable property in South Dakota. Socially, the doctor and wife stand high in the esteem of their fellow-townsinen, and the pro- fessional reputation of the doctor extends all through Willshire and the adjoining townships.

Q HARLES W. CARPENTER, of Van Wert, Ohio, a retired farmer and ex- soldier, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, November 17. 1844. a son of James W. and Susanna (Ream) Carpenter. who have long been residents of Washington township, Van Wert county. Charles W. was but eight years of age when his parents settled here, and here he was educated in the old- fashioned log school-house. and reared nntil . eighteen years of age, when he enlisted Au- gust 11, 1862, in company A, Ninety-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years, and was assigned to the army of the Cumberland, with William T. Scott as his captain. He took an active and gallant part in the hard- fought battles of Perryville. Ky., and Stone River, Tenn. ; was in the Tullahoma campaign in Tennessee up to Chattanooga and on to Chickamauga, where he was capturned by the enemy and taken to Libby prison, at Rich- mond, Va., and there confined from October, 1863, until February. 1864, and was then transferred to Andersonville; here he was held from February 22, 1864, until September fol- lowing; was then confined at Millen, Ga., an- til November 1; at Charleston, S. C., one month; at Florence, S. C., antil February,

OF VAN WERT COUNTY.

1865. and then in the pen near Wilmington, N. C., from which he and about 300 others made their escape and reached the city of Wilmington, which, in the meantime, had been captured by the Union army. He re- ceived his discharge at Camp Dennison, Cin- cinnati, Ohio, July IS, 1865, and is now drawing a pension of $12 per month, as a recompense for his sufferings while in the serv- ice and for duty well performed. He returned to Van Wert county July 20, 1865, and re- mained at home until his marriage, April 12, 1866, in Washington township, to Miss Mary E. Mann, a daughter of James and Caroline Mann, and born in Hocking county, Ohio, April 6, 1$40, the union resulting in the birth of two children, viz: Jessie, now the wife of James E. Wade, of Van Wert, and Birdsey M.

After his marriage Mr. Carpenter farmed in Washington township on rented land until 1869, when he bought forty acres, but shortly afterward sold and purchased 160 acres in Kansas; this land he also sold in due course of time, and in 1880 returned to Washington township and purchased a fifty-acre farm, on which he lived until 1894, when he sold out again and came to the city and for a few months was with David J. Hale in the agri- culture implement business, but soon retired to a life of ease and rest and the enjoyment of the society of his family and many friends. Mr. Carpenter is a republican in politics, and fraternally is a member of the I. O. O. F., the Royal Arcanum, and the G. A, R., and is held in the warmest friendship by all who know him.

home.

ANDY JEFFERSON CLIFTON, an energetic farmer of Willshire, Van Wert county, Ohio, is a native of the county in which he still makes his The father of the subject of this sketch

was Daniel Clifton, a son of Job Clifton, who spent his life in Pickaway county, Ohio, dying there in the early 'forties. Daniel Clifton was born in Pickaway county in 1826, received a limited education, and when quite young be- gan working for himself and became self- supporting. In early inanhood he married Elizabeth Burk, daughter of one of the pioneer settlers of-eastern Ohio, and later came to the county of Van Wert, locating in the township of Liberty. Actuated by a spirit of patriotism Mr. Clifton, in 1864, entered the army, enlist- ing in company H, Fifteenth Ohio infantry, with which he did valiant service in defense of the nation's honor until honorably discharged January 1, 1865; he died in prime of life, be- ing but thirty-eight years of age when called from the scenes of his early labors; his wife died March 28, 1863.

Landy J. Clifton was born in Van Wert county, Ohio, October 18, 1854. When quite young he suffered the loss of both his parents, and never knew a father's guidance or a mother's tender care. In consequence of this sad deprivation his advantages for acquiring an education was. of necessity, considerably circumscribed, and when a lad of tender years he was obliged to turn his hand to various kinds of manual labor in order to obtain a livelihood. He was reared to farm life, with which he early became familiar, and on attain- ing his majority began the pursuit of agri- culture upon his own responsibility.

Mr. Clifton and Laura Bell Sheets, daugh- ter of Frederick and Mrs. Nancy (Eustler) Sheets, were made man and wife on the 18th day of October, 1883, and their home has been gladdened by the birth of the following chil- dren: Davis L., Lambert, deceased: Ben- jamin, Sherman C. and Oliver V.

Mr. Clifton is a wide-awake man and first- class citizen; he owns a small farm, well im- proved, and in connection with tilling the soil.

96 .

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

has for some time been engaged in the man- ufacture of drain-tile, in which his success is most encouraging. Politically he is a repub- lican and in religion a member of the United Brethren church, belonging to the Radical congregation, in which he holds the position of trustee and steward; Mrs. Clifton is also a member of the same society, in which she is a most valued member and active worker.

March, 1886; he was followed by Rev. E. F. Rohan, and in November, 1887, Father Rohan was relieved by Rev. M. J. Clear; in March, 1891, Father Clear was withdrawn, and our subject, Rev. Joseph J. Clarke, was placed in charge of the flock, who hold him in the most reverential admiration for the unfaltering faithfulness with which he has filled every function pertaining to his sacred office. The present church building is of brick, is 54x36 feet in the ground plan, and was erected at a cost of $3.200. Father Clarke has also a mis- sion at Convoy, Van Wert county, also at Spencerville, Allen county, Ohio, both of which receive his most tender care.

EV. JOSEPH J. CLARKE, the pious and scholarly pastor of Saint Mary's Catholic church at Van Wert, Ohio, was born in Utica, N. Y., December 22, 1853, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Ohara) Clarke. Father Joseph Clarke re- ceived his preliminary education in the Assump- AMUEL COLLINS, a retired busi- ness man and prominent citizen of Van Wert, Ohio, was born in Hock- ing county, Ohio, October 2, 1322, a son of Samuel and Sarah (Davis) Collins-the former a native and farmer of New York state, and the latter a native of Ohio. Samuel and Sarah were the parents of four children beside our subject. viz: Eli, Nancy, Joseph and Sarah, all deceased. Mrs. Sarah Collins having died, Samuel inarried his deceased wife's sister, Nancy, who became the mother of two chil- dren: John, residing in Van Wert, and Perlina, widow of Reuben Everctt, of Hocking county. tion academy in Utica, and after leaving this school was employed in the same city for four and a half years in a dry-goods store, he then, in 1872, entered Saint Charles college, near Baltimore, Md., whence he went, in 1877, to Mount Saint Mary's, Emmetsburg, Md., where he took a three-year course in theology under Bishop Watterson; he then came to Ohio, entered the diocese of Cleveland, and was ordained November 11, 1883. He was, first, assistant priest at Cleveland; then at Hudson, Ohio; then at Elmore .. near Cleveland; then at South Thompson, Ohio; then came to Van Wert, Ohio, in March, 1891, and here he lias Samuel Collins, our subject, was but two years of age when his mother died, but he re- mained on the home farm until he reached his third year, when he made his home with his grandmother, Davis, with whom he resided until his majority, when he learned the milling and cording business with George Dunkel, at what is now Laurelville, Hocking county, Ohio, and subsequently for seven years had the manage- ment of Mr. Dunkel's milling business. In 1846, Mr. Collins was united in marriage with since remained, in charge of Saint Mary's par- ish. The congregation was organized in 1868, and the first mass was celebrated in an old frame residence: the church edifice was erected by father Hoeffel in 1874: the first pastor was Rev. James Leddy, who had charge until I878, when he was succeeded by Rev. John T. Cahill: in 1879, Rev. P. Barty followed Father Cahill and remained until December, 1881, when he was succeeded by Rev. T. J. O'Neil. who performed the functions of a pastor until : Miss Elizabeth Featherolf, daughter of Benja-

Samuel Collines

97-98

MRS. ELIZABETH COLLINS, DECEASED.

99-100

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min and Hannah (Fink) Featherolf, of Hock- ing county. To this union have been born eight children, as follows: An infant, deceased; Lewis, who became a lawyer at Van Wert, Ohio, and now resides in New Mexico; Martin, now in South Dakota; Jennie, wife of E. B. Gilliland, of Van Wert; Peter, a farmer of Van Wert; Emily, who died in early child- hood; Samuel, who died at the age of thirteen years; Hannah, who superintends her father's home. In 1851, Mr. Collins came to Van Wert county, and settled on a farm of sixty acres which he had purchased in 1845, to which he has since added until he now owns 380 acres, all of which has been thoroughly tile-drained, well fenced and improved with first-class buildings. Beside this splendid farm, Mr. Collins is the owner of an eighty- six acre tract of land, on which there are three producing oil wells. He is also the owner of valuable city property, including a desireable residence on South Washington street, Van Wert, which he makes his home. Mr. Collins holds to the Baptist church, and in this faith his loving and aimable wife died November 12, 1886. In his politics Mr. Collins is a prohi- bitionist, of which he has been an adherent for seven years. The only society with which he has ever associated himself, outside of his church; is that of the Patrons of Husbandry, of which he was made master of the Pleasant township grange on its organization. He is highly respected as an upright and useful citi- zen, and his aid is never lacking toward any enterprise that bears the impress of usefulness to the public at large.

AJ. ISRAEL DILLE CLARK, de- ceased .--- Such a work as the one in hand exercises its most impor- tant function when it enters a meit- oir to one who has passed as long and useful

a life as did the honored subject whose name initiates this review. The story of his career is one that tells of long identification with the history of Ohio, of unstinted and loyal service to his country in the crucial hour of civil war- fare, and of high position in professional ranks and as a man among men. Probably the name of no one man in the city of Van Wert recalls to those who knew him such mingled feelings of pride and sorrow as that of Maj. Israel D. Clark -- pride for his sterling character and his exalted ability, and sorrow for the deprivation which came when he was summoned into eternal rest. He was prominently identified with the interests of the city and county, and this compilation would be inconsistent with itself were there failure to revert in detail to the history of the career of this noble man.

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A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1, Part 74

Author: Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Chicago : A.W. Bowen Number of Pages: 1310

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : A.W. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1310